Sunday, December 21, 2025
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“Twin Peaks” Reveals that Don Murray (Age 87) Is Still Alive and Tom Sizemore Isn’t in Jail

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“Twin Peaks: The Return” episode 5 was obtuse and unforgiving, just the like the four previous hours. The show has no plot or purpose. I think I’m done now.

I think what’s really interesting is that there are no opening actor credits. This reflects that there is no structure to this thing. It’s just a free for fall. Occasionally we get cameos from old cast members, but they’re meaningless.

Yes, you could make a list of oddities and questions left hanging, but what’s the purpose?

This week’s episode did answer two burning questions. One– is Don Murray alive? Yes. The celebrated theater actor, star of “Knots Landing” (he was Sid Fairgate), and 1957 Oscar nominee for “Picnic” is 87, almost 88 years old. According to the imdb he hasn’t been on screen since 2001! Well, he looks great. Good for him!

Also, we learned that Tom Sizemore is not in jail. Over the years, Sizemore has had a lot of brushes with the law, and notable problems with substance abuse. He was once engaged to Heidi Fleiss. But on “Twin Peaks” he looks pretty good. He’s survived a crazy life. Again, good for him!

The rest of it– who knows? It’s nice to see my pal, Robert Forster, who lights up every scene. But much of the show takes place away from “Twin Peaks.” This is not “Twin Peaks” but a really long David Lynch movie in which Mark Frost was sometimes allowed to insert Twin Peaks references. But you know, it’s summer, and Sunday night. So what the heck.

Megyn Kelly Debuts, and Fizzles, On New NBC Show– But We’re Relieved That Putin Thinks We’re Crazy

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Megyn Kelly’s debut on NBC was a fizzle, no sizzle. Her much touted interview with Russian president Vladimir Putin had no headlines. Basically, Putin said we were all crazy to think he was close to Donald Trump, General Flynn, or Jared Kushner. Kelly nodded in assent. Russia, Putin said, had not interfered in the US election.

Yawn. Megyn Kelly came all the way from Fox to NBC to tell us this. So I guess it’s over. All the intelligence agencies are wrong. Trump and pals are right. You may return to your original program, already in progress. And that program might have been called “Dateline,” since Kelly’s new Sunday show was just “Dateline” with her as the gang leader. Wasn’t this a Brian Williams show called “30 Rock”?

It was nice to see Harry Smith and Cynthia McFadden, two really smart news correspondents whom I think would have asked Putin some follow up questions.

I got so bored I went back to “60 Minutes” and Steve Kroft’s rerun piece (excellent) on Chobani and Lara Logan with gorillas in Rwanda.

Tamron Hall, please come home.

 

R&B Star Bryson Tiller Has 8 of the Top 50 Streaming Singles, Number 1 Streamed Album

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All Beatles celebrating aside, the biggest music act in the U.S. right is Bryson Tiller. Know who he is? He’s a modern R&B star, like Frank Orange or Chance the Rapper. He’s not just a rapper. Tiller sings. It’s rap- singing but it’s very appealing and definitely interesting.

Eight of the tracks from his “True to Self” are on the Streaming Songs chart from BuzzAngle. Eight. That’s the sign of a real hit album these days. The opposite of this is Harry Styles, a pop superstar whose self-titled album is not getting much streaming love at all.

“True to Self” is number 1 on the Sales Plus Streaming chart– a total of 116,400. Only 47,209 of that number comprises actual physical sales and paid downloads. Like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, Tiller is a streaming phenom. The urban audience doesn’t need to own the music– they just want unfettered access to it.

Tiller is worth checking out, if only because some of his album has sound effects that sound like they’re from the Beatles’ later work. He also samples a few older R&B tracks, but in a very low profile way.

 

TV: Leah Remini’s Chemistry With Kevin James Leads to Total Retool for “Kevin Can Wait” — Lead Actress Out

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You can’t blame Leah Remini. She and Kevin James have more chemistry than one of those Scientology e-meters. When Remini appeared on the season finale of “Kevin Can Wait,” the more important meters– run by Nielsen– went crazy. Now she’s in as James’s co-star and “Kevin Can Wait” actress Erinn Hayes is out.

Remini and James, of course, had a 9 year hit run in “King of Queens” on CBS. They were like an update of “The Honeymooners” and “Roseanne” and other classic working class comedies. “Kevin Can Wait” was a hit, but not a big sustainable hit. So Remini’s arrival was watched closely. And when it hit big, that was enough for CBS.

Now Erinn Hayes, who played Kevin’s wife Donna, is out after one season. She’ll either disappear, be a dream, be killed off. Who knows? It’s sad for the actress, who probably thought she was going to be in a hit show for seven seasons. But ratings can’t wait.

Remini will return in the fall as her cop character Veronica. All summer she’ll be seen in her Scientology series on A&E, which has turned out to be a hit on its own. Scientology counted on Remini disappearing from TV and prominence. But now she’s really back, and she should only drive them crazy until they’re completely gone.

This is a double triumph for Remini at CBS, too. Remember, she was let go from “The Talk” several seasons ago after “King of Queens.” Now that she’s relocated at CBS, I’d love to see the same for Holly Robinson Peete.

As for Hayes, there is a precedent: Carla Gugino was cut from Michael J. Fox’s “Spin City” years ago. She went on to have a great career in movies, TV, and Broadway. So there’s hope yet.

All Hail “Wonder Woman” with $100 Mil Opening Weekend, Biggest Debut Ever For Female Director

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Biggest debut ever for female director. Biggest debut ever for standalone comic book movie. With a female star. And with highest critics’ rating.

All these kudos and records go to Patty Jenkins, who directed “Wonder Woman” to an outsize $100 million opening weekend. Warner Brothers and DC Comics are uncorking Champagne. It’s like the old days. A real movie. A real hit. Shazam!

It’s a wonderful occasion when movie magic strikes. After WB’s “King Arthur” debacle, it’s extra sweet!

So get ready for at least two more “Wonder Woman” movies– not to mention “Justice League” this winter with Wonder Woman and Gal Gadot featured. DC Comics finally gets a boost like Marvel. And now “Justice League” is being retooled by Joss Whedon, who gave “The Avengers” their mojo for Marvel.

Elsewhere: despite bad reviews and basic apathy from US audiences, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” now has $500 million worldwide.

Fox has an animated hit in “Captain Underpants.” The movie has a very good soundtrack including a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Think” by Adam Lambert.

Box Office: “Wonder Woman” Scores Massive $38.9 Mil Friday, Heads Toward $100 Mil-Plus Weekend

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“Wonder Woman” has just reset Warner Bros’ year. Patty Jenkins’ rip roaring super hero movie made just over $38.9 mil from Thursday previews and last night’s take. Star Gal Gadot will lasso up over $100 for the weekend.

This means that “Wonder Woman” had made in two days more than Warners’ “King Arthur” has done in two weeks–$36 million. And just wait til last night’s word of mouth bulks up Saturday and Sunday sales, not to mention repeat visits from tween girls who will want to see it again.

Meanwhile, the dogs are barking at Disney where the 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” has collapsed completely. They made just under $7 million on Friday night, around 75% lower than last Friday’s opening.

More to come…

The Beatles Finish at Number 1 with “Sgt. Pepper 50th,” Rake in Around $10 Mil In One week

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The 50th anniversary box set of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” finished at number 1 on Friday. The $117.99 set retails for $117.99, and earned the Beatles over $7 million in one week (including pre-sales). That’s a low number, too, which doesn’t include all formats and all countries.

But it’s quite an accomplishment. They sold 61,521 copies of the box set in the US alone– that’s the physical box plus downloads. Counting in other markets and other versions of the set, the Beatles probably made $10 million just in sales. That doesn’t count publishing royalties for how many times their songs played on all kinds of formats all week.

Nice work by all involved.

PS The box set is the only configuration that features the Mono CD, and the two outtake CDs, not to mention the new stereo CD and the two video discs. It’s well worth it just for the 3D cover and the hardcover book. Package of the year– Grammy Awards take note.

It Was 50 Years Ago Today– June 2nd Was American Date for Beatles “Sgt. Pepper” Release

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There’s been lots of Beatles celebrating today over the 50th anniversary of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

In fact, the U.S. anniversary is Friday, June 2nd. The album was released a day earlier in the UK.

A lot of the cork popping can be heard on Sirius XM, where Channel 18 has gone all Beatles. I’ve been listening to avidly. I’d give them an A minus. The minus part is too many records that are “Beatles influences.”If I want to hear a Motown song or a Chuck Berry track, there are plenty of stations.

The Beatles Channel will grow and add tracks in weeks to come, I assume. So far I’ve haven’t heard any Badfinger or Mary Hopkin. There have been some solo tracks, but it feels like it’s a lot of McCartney (biggest of the four solos). Today I heard “I’m the Greatest” by Ringo, written by John, for the first time.

The worst thing I’ve heard by far is Neil Diamond’s cover of “Yesterday.” I hope once was enough. What they’re really missing is a Beatles cover record by Roberta Flack, commissioned a short time ago by Sony-ATV and then kind of dropped. It’s a wonderful set that should be re-discovered.

Also, Tina Turner singing “Help.” Phoebe Snow performing McCartney’s “Every Night.” Michael Jackson singing McCartney’s “Girlfriend.” Joe Cocker, and so on.

It will take time. But I was happy to hear Dennis Elsas and Bill Flanagan on a weekly show called “Fab Forum.” And they’ve got Chris Carter’s “Breakfast with the Beatles.” But what about a May Pang show? She knows so much!

It does look like the “Sgt. Pepper” 50th anniversary box, retailing for $117.99, sold around 50,000 copies. It will finish at number 2 or 3 for the week. Final numbers will be in tomorrow night.

Congrats to Apple and to producer Giles Martin, who’s done his late dad, George Martin, the real “Fifth Beatle,” and an heralded genius, proud.

NY Daily News Friday: ‘Trump to World Drop Dead’ Cover Evokes Famous 1975 Headline ‘Ford to City Drop Dead’

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amd-ford-to-city-jpgFriday’s cover of the New York Daily News reads: “Trump to World: Drop Dead.” It’s meant to evoke the famous Daily News cover from October 1975 when President Gerald Ford refused to step in and save New York from financial ruin. We got the last laugh on Ford– look at thriving New York now. And we’ll get the last laugh on Donald Trump, the most mocked politician in the world– by the world.

trump daily news cover